52 CSI Challenge. The Greatest Gift

The colours this week just seemed perfect for a masculine theme, so I have chosen to use one of my favourite photos of my husband.  He’s a keeper.

The design is based on one by Julie Winks.  Thanks for your generosity in allowing me to use it Julie. xo

EVIDENCE

Twine and string

Paint

Hessian (burlap) and gauze

TESTIMONY

I chose to document a gift; the gift he is to me and our family.

The journalling is on the back of the page, because I wanted a lot of 

white space to show all the stamping and misting.  Sadly it has not photographed well. 

The Journalling reads:-

We started our married life, full of innocence and egocentricity, blissfully unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.  We promised to love, honour and cherish, not knowing our individual traits would some times cause friction and disharmony.  We were young and naive about the demands of a long term relationship.  We assumed the glow of romance would last forever, not understanding that children demand constant attention and quality adult time would become a scarce commodity.  We became Mum and Dad, delighting in the growth and development of our boys and fiercely protective of their safety and wellbeing.  

They challenged our parenting, our hypocrisies, our values and our patience. They pushed the boundaries, dragging us toward an understanding and tolerance of their world; one that was fraught with dangers we never faced.  Through all their erratic hormonal moods, you stood calm, firm and balanced, showing them by example, that manhood can be much more than brute strength and aggression.  For more than forty years, we’ve gently nurtured each other through grief, loss and life threatening illness.  We anticipate each others needs and make allowances for each others frailties.    

We share a passion for travel, photography, food and wine, books and music.  We debate politics and religion from disparate points of view.  We are relaxed in each other’s company and share a harmony of spirit (most of the time).  Occasionally Mr Curmudgeonly pokes his head above the parapet, but usually only in response to Mrs Bossy firing off some random crankiness.

You are Life’s greatest gift to me; my True North, my rock, my soul mate; utterly dependable, kind and trustworthy.  A gentle man and a gentleman; I feel so lucky to have found you and kept you.   Like a couple of crusty old barnacles on the ship of life, we are firmly attached to the vessel of marriage and to each other.  We weather the storms by allowing them to just wash over us and recede with the tide.  When I see the Grand children run to you with open arms and beatific smiles, I know they adore being with you too.

I love you more today, than I did when we walked down the aisle.  “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be” Robert Browning.          Journalling December 2012

51 - CSI Challenge. Diva

I love pink and blue together and have been waiting for these colours to come up in the challenge to do justice the this photo and this story. I know it's a busy time of the year for most of us, but if you are at a loose end, why not test your mettle with these gorgeous colours.....we'd love to see you over at CSI.

 and a couple of close ups

EVIDENCE

Something Metal - the butterfly

Circular Objects - the buttons

Rhinestones - in the flower centre

Pearls - in the flower centres

Something filigree - Border punches 

TESTIMONY

I used the inspiration words Best, and Decorate to kick start the story.

THE JOURNALLING  IS ON THE BACK AND READS

These little two girls were dressed in their best outfits by their Mother, ready to attend their Aunt’s wedding. They wore blue woolen pleated skirts and hand knitted pink twinsets. The celebration was a rare and exciting occasion and the smallest girl had set her heart on wearing the matching blue hat; the one decorated with the gorgeous pink, organza roses.  

Imagine her surprise when her big sister was given that beautiful creation and she was relegated to wear the brown one, with tiny yellow stitched blooms.

She flopped to the floor in anguish, kicking and screaming in despair.   The brown hat didn’t match her outfit; why couldn’t her big sister wear the brown one?  Why did she have to look like a twit in the ugly brown hat?  

Despite much coaxing and cajoling by her Mother, followed eventually by a smart crack around the legs, she sobbed inconsolably on the floor.  Her Mother tied the hat on her head and showed her how pretty she looked in the mirror, but she just bawled, pulled the offending article off and stamped on it.  By this time, her usually serene Mother lost her patience and called in the cavalry. 

Her Father loomed large in the room, wielding his razor strop.  Accepting her defeat, she donned the ghastly head wear and ‘harrumphed’ out to the car.   This photo, taken after the wedding, clearly demonstrates how long her grumpy mood lasted.

When I reflect on this tantrum now, I am surprised about my temerity. We were never allowed to defy our parents and were usually compliant in all things.  The fact that I had such a spectacular tantrum over something seemingly trivial, appears outrageous to my adult self, but I still won’t wear brown and my favourite colour is still blue.  Obviously, all these decades later, I’ve been healed of the wounding to my five year old psyche.  10/12/12

TFL and for any comments you may care to leave.  I appreciate you dropping in to say Gidday.

PRODUCTS USED

Bazzil cardstock - Pink

Pink Anna Griffin - Patterned Paper AG 1739

Coredinations - white wash collection, Cellar door

Martha Stewart Punch - Deco Fans

Martha Stewart Punch - Doily Lace Trim, deep edger border

Scrap Matts - Oval Frame

Prima - flowers

Prima - Say it with crystals

Kaiser craft - flowers

Spotlight - flowers

Spotlight - Buttons

Kaisercraft - Pearls

Bella - Chipboard, alphas

Adorn it - Carolees’s creations, alphas, Outdoor Green

Crafterw Workshop Stencil - Cherry Blossom

Derivan Impasto -  Texture Paste

Prima ink - Blue jay

Cheery Lyn Die - Fanciful Flourish

50 - CSI challenge, Heritage

The design team have a wide variety of takes on this challenge.  The colours lend themselves to any photo.  Why not pop over and have a look at some of the art. 

When I saw this palette, my mind turned immediately to vintage and this particular photo.  I wanted to create the type of padded photo frame I have seen on vintage family photos.   I used some damask curtain material from my Mother's stash.

EVIDENCE

Ribbon

Fabric

Stitching

String

Something Metal - Button and Cog

Something shiny - glimmermist on the frame

TESTIMONY

I chose to list eight important things about the topic.  I found it difficult to stop at eight, so there are a few extras points listed.

THE JOURNALLING READS

My Grandfather William Ryan was a third generation Australian.  His Grandfather, Michael Andrew, had emigrated from Plymouth on Christmas day 1850, arriving in South Australia on the “Osceola” on 6th April 1851.  Michael’s place of origin was Tipperary in Ireland.  Like so many Irish people during that time, he and his family were literally starving, due to the failure of their potato crops.  During the potato famine, Irish people in the countryside tried to live off wild blackberries, nettles, roots and weeds.  Those on the coast foraged for sea weed. There were fish in the deeper waters off the coast, but too far out for the tiny cowhide fishing boats, known as Curraghs. Potato had been their staple diet and when the blight obliterated their crops, they were forced to leave family and friends in the hope of a better life in Australia. My Great, great Grandfather, was 15 years old when he set off into the unknown.  With this family history, my Grandfather inherited a legacy of hard work and making do with very little.  He and his wife had nine children and managed to keep food on the table, but there was never any money left over for fripperies. Despite the hardships, my Mother described him as a loving man with a great sense of humour. Here his is with his brothers, Jim on the left and Peter on the right.  I like to think I can see hope shining in their eyes. 

Circa 1900 Journalling  9/12/2012

A couple of close ups

The Hope tag is from an ancient "Kay" sticker sheet

I had fun making the rosettes with a Tim Holtz Die - so easy

The little booklet tucked under the frame contains the journalling

Thanks for dropping in and for any comments you may care to leave.  I appreciate each and every one of them.

PRODUCTS USED

Little Yellow Bicycle - Winterings

Martha Stewart Punch - Vintage Floral

Basic Gray - Beckham Alphas

Kaszazz - Fancy Flourish Stamp

Kay - Marcella, sticker

Prima, leaves

Bazzil - cardstock

Derivan - Impasto

Tim Holtz - mini gears

KaiserCraft - white paint

Ranger Dabber - Hazelnut

Ranger distress stain - Pumice Stone

Tim Holtz -Mini Rosettes

Tim Holz - washi tape

Graphic 45 - Buttons

K&Co - metal key

Vintage Buttons

Vintage - string

Tattered Angels - Glimmer mist, Creme de Cocoa

Cheery Lyn Die - English Tea Party

Scrap Matts - Chipboard photo frame -

Color Box Chalk ink - Dark brown